Few flowering shrubs can match the easy grace and late-summer charm of rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus).
With its upright form, lush green foliage, and showy blooms in shades of white, pink, red, purple, and blue, this hardy hibiscus is a landscape staple for good reason.
Native to East Asia and hardy in Zones 5 to 9, rose of Sharon grows eight to 12 feet tall and six to 10 feet wide, producing an abundance of two- to four-inch blossoms from midsummer until fall.
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Each rose of Sharon flower lasts only a day, but new buds open continuously for weeks, creating a steady display of color when much of the garden has begun to fade.
But the true magic of H. syriacus lies in its diversity.
Modern breeding has produced dozens of cultivars that offer compact habits, variegated foliage, double blooms, and a variety of colors that go far beyond the familiar lavender-blue.
Whether you’re looking for a dwarf variety for a patio container or a bold specimen that anchors a border, there’s a rose of Sharon for every space and style.
In our guide to growing rose of Sharon, we cover how to cultivate these dramatic shrubs.
Now let’s explore 25 outstanding rose of Sharon cultivars, from timeless classics to striking new introductions.
Here’s the lineup:
25 of the Best Rose of Sharon Varieties
1. Aphrodite
How fitting, that our first rose of Sharon cultivar has the same name as the Greek goddess of beauty.
Bred by the US National Arboretum in the 1970s and released in 1988, ‘Aphrodite’ was part of a program to create roses of Sharon with improved flower color and minimal seed production.
The shrub grows six to 10 feet tall and about eight feet wide, forming an upright, rounded habit.
It bears large, single blooms up to four inches wide, with bright pink petals and deep red centers. Its long bloom season and compact size make it a dependable choice.
You can find ‘Aphrodite’ plants available at Fast Growing Trees.
2. Ardens
‘Ardens’ has semi-double to double flowers in lilac-pink with darker veining and a maroon eye.
The petals are slightly ruffled and irregular, giving the blooms a layered appearance. Flowers measure about four inches across.
The shrub grows eight to 12 feet tall and six to 10 feet wide with an upright, vase-shaped growth habit.
‘Ardens’ is available from Nature Hills Nursery.
3. Azurri Blue Satin
Bred in Belgium and introduced by Proven Winners® ColorChoice®, ‘Azurri Blue Satin’ produces single blooms in soft blue-purple shades, each petal marked with a faint pink blush and a red eye at the center.
The shrub forms an upright, vase-shaped habit, reaching eight to 12 feet tall and four to six feet wide at maturity. This cultivar is seedless and does not self-sow.
You can find plants available at Fast Growing Trees.
4. Blue Bird
Also known by its French name ‘Oiseau Blue’, ‘Blue Bird’ bursts with beautiful five-inch single flowers, each with sky blue petals and small red centers.
The shrub also has a rounded growth habit, with heights of six to eight feet and a spread of eight feet.
This sterile cultivar is also beautiful enough to have earned the prestigious Award of Garden Merit from the UK’s Royal Horticultural Society!
You can add ‘Blue Bird’ to your landscape by visiting Nature Hills Nursery.
5. Blue Chiffon
Blue Chiffon® has semi-double, pale blue flowers about four inches across with a soft, lacy texture and a dark red-purple eye.
The smaller inner petals partially cover the center, giving the blooms a full appearance while still revealing the streaked markings inside.
The shrub grows eight to 12 feet tall and four to six feet wide with a rounded habit.
Bred in England and introduced by Proven Winners®, this sterile cultivar does not produce viable seed and has received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
You can purchase Blue Chiffon® at Fast Growing Trees.
6. Blueberry Smoothie
Blueberry Smoothie™ bears large, fully double blooms in vivid blue-purple shades with ruffled petals that create a full, textured look. Flowers cover the plant in continuous color.
The shrub grows about eight feet tall and four to six feet wide with a dense, upright habit.
This sterile rose of Sharon was bred for its saturated flower color and tidy growth, offering an alternative to older, seed-producing varieties.
You can find Blueberry Smoothie™ shrubs available from Nature Hills Nursery.
7. Blush Satin
Also known by the cultivar name ‘Mathilde,’ Blush Satin® bears single flowers in soft blush pink with a distinct red eye at the center.
The petals are broad and lightly ruffled, creating a luminous effect across the shrub when in bloom.
Plants grow eight to 12 feet tall and six to 10 feet wide with an upright, rounded habit.
This Proven Winners® introduction produces few or no viable seeds, making it a low-maintenance choice for the landscape.
8. Blushing Bride
‘Blushing Bride’ produces large double blooms that open a soft pink and gradually fade to nearly white as the season progresses.
The layered petals give the flowers a full, rounded appearance, creating a dense display.
The shrub grows about eight to 12 feet tall and six to 10 feet wide with an upright habit.
The shifting color of the blossoms adds contrast through the season, giving the plant a dynamic presence in the landscape.
You can find ‘Blushing Bride’ available at Nature Hills Nursery.
9. China Chiffon
China Chiffon® bears semi-double white flowers with a red-purple eye and streaking that radiates toward the petal edges. Each bloom measures about four to five inches across.
The shrub grows eight to 12 feet tall and four to six feet wide with an upright, rounded habit.
Bred in England by Dr. Roderick Woods and introduced through Proven Winners®, this sterile rose of Sharon does not produce viable seed.
You can find China Chiffon® plants available at Nature Hills Nursery.
10. Danica
‘Danica’ produces double flowers with petals that open creamy white and are edged in shades of pink to deep raspberry.
The outer petals often show red or fuchsia veining toward the center, creating a layered, two-toned effect.
The shrub grows eight to 10 feet tall and four to six feet wide with an upright, rounded habit.
This sterile cultivar does not produce viable seed and maintains a neat appearance in the landscape.
You can find ‘Danica’ rose of Sharon plants available at Nature Hills Nursery.
11. Diana
‘Diana’ bears pure white, single flowers three to four inches across that remain open later in the day than most other cultivars.
The extended bloom time gives it strong visual impact even in the evening.
The shrub grows four to 10 feet tall and three to six feet wide with a compact, upright habit.
As a triploid rose of Sharon, it is sterile and does not produce viable seed. It has received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
12. Helene
‘Helene’ is a triploid cultivar bred by the U.S. National Arboretum in the 1970s and released in the 1980s. It grows six to 10 feet tall with a similar spread, forming a compact, rounded shape.
The single flowers are about four inches across with ruffled white petals and a deep red throat.
As a sterile selection, it produces no viable seed and maintains a tidy habit throughout the season.
13. Lavender Chiffon
Also known by the cultivar name ‘Notwoodone,’ Lavender Chiffon® produces double flowers about four inches across in soft lilac-pink with a distinct red eye at the center of each petal.
The layered blooms give the plant a full, textured appearance through the season.
The shrub grows eight to 12 feet tall and four to six feet wide with an upright, rounded habit.
A sterile Proven Winners® introduction, it does not produce viable seed and has received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
Lavender Chiffon® rose of Sharon is available at Nature Hills Nursery.
14. Lil’ Kim
Also known by the cultivar name ‘Antong Two,’ Lil’ Kim® is a dwarf selection bred in South Korea by Dr. Kyung-Ku Shim.
It grows only three to four feet tall and wide, making it one of the most compact roses of Sharon available.
Part of the Proven Winners® ColorChoice® line, it produces single white flowers measuring about three inches across with dark red throats and pronounced red veins that extend nearly to the petal edges.
Each bloom lasts up to three days, longer than most cultivars.
You can pick up Lil’ Kim® rose of Sharon from Nature Hills Nursery.
15. Lucy
‘Lucy’ is a compact, sterile selection that grows six to eight feet tall and about six feet wide, giving it a short, full form.
It bears double flowers about four inches across in rich rosy pink.
The densely layered petals create blooms that resemble pink peonies, making this cultivar a standout choice where a smaller, heavily flowering shrub is desired.
You can find ‘Lucy’ available at Fast Growing Trees.
16. Minerva
Introduced by the U.S. National Arboretum, ‘Minerva’ grows five to eight feet tall and four to seven feet wide with a rounded, upright habit.
The single flowers measure four to five inches across and are lavender-pink with vivid red throats that radiate slightly into the petals.
The color combination gives this cultivar a strong, clear contrast that stands out even from a distance.
Developed as part of the Arboretum’s triploid breeding program alongside ‘Aphrodite,’ ‘Diana,’ and ‘Helene,’ this sterile cultivar produces no viable seed.
To catch the eyes of your neighbors, you can find ‘Minerva’ available at Fast Growing Trees.
17. Paraplu Pink Ink
Paraplu Pink Ink® is a Proven Winners® introduction with single white flowers marked by a striking magenta-red eye and streaks that extend toward the petal tips.
The blooms are broad and open-faced, showing clear contrast between the crisp white petals and vivid center.
This cultivar grows about eight to 12 feet tall and four to six feet wide with an upright habit.
It is sterile and does not produce viable seed, keeping the plant neat and free of unwanted volunteers.
You can find Paraplu Pink Ink® available at Nature Hills Nursery.
18. Purple Pillar
Also known by the cultivar name ‘Gandini Santiago,’ Purple Pillar® grows 10 to 16 feet tall and four to five feet wide, forming a narrow, upright habit ideal for vertical accents or smaller spaces.
The semi-double flowers are about four inches across with light purple petals and dark red throats. A Proven Winners® introduction, this is a sterile selection.
You can find Purple Pillar® rose of Sharon plants available from Fast Growing Trees.
19. Purple Satin
Also known by the cultivar name ‘Marina,’ Purple Satin® bears single flowers about four inches across in rich purple with a deep red eye.
The petals are slightly ruffled, giving the blooms texture and depth.
The shrub grows eight to 12 feet tall and six to eight feet wide with an upright, vase-shaped growth habit.
A Proven Winners® introduction, this sterile cultivar does not produce viable seed.
Head to Nature Hills Nursery to pick up Purple Satin® rose of Sharon plants.
20. Raspberry Smoothie
Raspberry Smoothie™ forms large, fully double flowers in saturated raspberry-pink with a faint magenta tone toward the center.
The petals are densely packed and slightly twisted, creating roselike blooms with real volume and texture.
The shrub reaches six to eight feet tall and about five feet wide with a balanced, upright shape. This sterile cultivar flowers heavily through the season without producing seed.
Find Raspberry Smoothie™ plants available at Nature Hills Nursery.
21. Red Heart
‘Red Heart’ produces single white flowers with dark red centers that create a bold contrast between the petals and the throat.
The blooms measure about four inches across and stand out sharply against the green foliage.
The shrub grows eight to 12 feet tall and six to 10 feet wide with an upright, rounded habit.
A long-established cultivar, it’s valued for its clean white color and the intensity of its red eye.
You can find ‘Red Heart’ available from Nature Hills Nursery.
22. Sugar Tip
Also known by the cultivar name ‘America Irene Scott,’ Sugar Tip® is a variegated rose of Sharon with fluffy soft pink double flowers about three inches across.
The petals are pale blush with a slightly darker center, standing out against blue-green leaves edged in creamy white.
This Proven Winners® introduction grows six to eight feet tall and four to six feet wide with a dense, upright form. It is sterile and does not produce viable seed.
You can find Sugar Tip® plants available from Burpee.
23. Tahiti
Tahiti™ forms large, double blooms in shades of lavender-pink with a deep red eye.
The inner petals are shorter and slightly twisted, creating a full, roselike effect that stands out clearly against the dark green foliage.
This First Editions® introduction grows six to eight feet tall and four to six feet wide with a dense, upright shape. A sterile selection, it produces no viable seed.
Find Tahiti™ rose of Sharon plants available at Nature Hills Nursery.
24. White Chiffon
Also known by the cultivar name ‘Notwoodtwo,’ White Chiffon® bears large, single white flowers about four inches across with a faintly ruffled texture.
The clean petals and open form give it a bright, airy look in bloom.
This Proven Winners® introduction grows eight to 12 feet tall and four to six feet wide with an upright habit.
It’s a sterile cultivar that has received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
Find White Chiffon® rose of Sharon available at Nature Hills Nursery.
25. White Pillar
Also known by the cultivar name ‘Gandini Van Aart,’ White Pillar® forms a tall, narrow column reaching 10 to 16 feet in height and four to five feet in width.
The plant’s vertical structure makes it ideal for tight spaces, screening, or as a formal accent.
It bears single white flowers with overlapping petals and a light red center. A Proven Winners® introduction, this cultivar is sterile and does not produce viable seed.
Head to Fast Growing Trees to pick up your own White Pillar®.
Variety Is the Spice of Landscaping
Whether you prefer the pure white of White Chiffon®, the compact size of Lil’ Kim®, or the bold vertical form of Purple Pillar®, there’s a rose of Sharon to fit nearly any garden.
These aren’t all the Hibiscus syriacus cultivars out there, either – there are plenty more. Although these 25 are my personal favorites, many others are worth your consideration.
Are you growing rose of Sharon? Do you have a favorite variety or three? Let us know in the comments section below!
And to learn more about growing hibiscus plants in your landscape, add these guides to your reading list next:
